Marcia Francois's Blog, page 68
March 18, 2015
What leisure time looks like for most women
I’m reading (well, listening to) the most fabulous book at the moment – Overwhelmed
by Brigid Schulte.
I’m going to be talking lots more about this book probably for months to come because it is just that good.
In the beginning of the book, she meets with a time researcher who analyses time logs. He tells her that she has nearly 30 hours of leisure a week, just like most women.
Of course she’s shocked because it certainly doesn’t feel like it. And 30 hours? Really?
Therein lies the rub.
March 16, 2015
Gretchen Rubin and the 4 tendencies
Long-time readers of my blog will know I love Gretchen Rubin’s work.
I loved reading The Happiness Project
and while I didn’t enjoy Happier at Home
as much, it was still worth the read.
It just so happens that she’s got a book about habits coming out tomorrow and wait for this – the cool thing is that writing about the 4 tendencies has been on my editorial calendar since the beginning of the month, and I just checked Amazon to look for a picture and I see it’s releasing tomorrow. Too cool.
March 13, 2015
Use your {gift wrap} stash
I recently took Elise Cripe’s Use your Stash course.
This course specifically talks about using up scrapbook stuff. I had washi tape, some paper (really not much at all – 3 pads about 2/3 finished) and quite a bit of Project Life cards. I don’t have any other fancy embellishments and whatnot.
Aside from the ideas to use up things, I took one key thought with me (and I’m paraphrasing)
You can’t just use the stuff as you normally would. You have a stash. So go BIG!
True, right?
It’s like with e...
March 11, 2015
There’s something about me and a list
My master to-do list, that is.
I have always loved having a master list.
I don’t like the same master list to taunt me for very long so I usually make sure I get through it after a couple of months.
The types of master to-do lists I use:
Life admin
This is the list with things like book car in for a service, make dental appointments, get sliding door fixed, etc.
House projects
When there seem to be too many notes on the life admin list relating to the house, then I start a house projects list. We ar...
March 9, 2015
{Live intentionally} Why I date my kids
At one point many years ago (isn’t that funny? I say that and yet the kids are only 5 and a half!), Dion and I decided that it would be a good idea for each of us to spend 1:1 time with each of the twins.
To be honest, in the early days it was just more practical to divide and conquer errands, but a lovely by-product was that each twin was much better behaved when they were with just one parent than when we were all together as a family.
(this is still true today)
Then I attended a love language...
March 5, 2015
{Friday Fun} What’s in my handbag?
Maybe it’s just me but I’m always super curious about what people carry with them.
I even have a friend (the one in the photo on this page) who doesn’t even carry a handbag!
I can’t even! 
In case there are other handbag freaks out there just like me, I thought it would be fun to show you what I’m currently hauling around in my handbag.
This is the most expensive handbag I own and I promised myself when I bought it ten years ago (after selling about 10 other bags :)) that I’d not buy another for...
March 3, 2015
I’m not getting enough sleep. Are you?
I’m a total and complete night owl so my natural tendency is to stay up late because my brain is most awake then.
However, I work full-time so I don’t have the luxury of totally living in tune with my body clock.
I used to have a rule about my bedtime and, to be honest, it still exists. I’m just not following it at all.
I like to be sleeping by 12 so I need to be in bed by 11 since I read for an hour every night – bliss!
And here’s my rule – computer off by 10:30.
(I’m typing this at 11:02 pm!)
I f...
March 2, 2015
Goals, goals, goals – let’s live with intention
I hosted another session of Let’s Do This on Saturday and it was awesome.
Lovely workshop participants
I told the ladies that it was my favourite night of the month because it was Goals Night. I’ll confess I had a few strange looks but that’s okay – it works for me.
The aftermath
The nextLet’s Do This workshop will be held in June to set us on course for the second half of the year.
Right, so let’s talk about the month’s highlights:
We were without a nanny for 8 days which was a lot chaotic…
I impro...
February 26, 2015
Geniuses, Jerry and a fantastic reader question
A good few weeks ago a reader sent me a question wondering about a business owner whose products I sometimes promote.
This business owner clearly has very different personal values than I do and the reader wondered how I reconcile that in my mind as the business owner uses profanity and is very woo-woo, and the reader knows I’m a Christian.
I loved this email and this is my response:
Most business people I follow don’t have exactly the same beliefs as I do. The way I approach this is in a two-pr...
February 25, 2015
{Live intentionally} How to increase your happiness
We’ve stayed in the same two flats (apartments) in Ballito the last 4 times we’ve been for holidays.
They either have the same owner or the same people renovated them because theyhavevery similar finishes.
And they have these amazing door handles which I love.
Handles you can hang a cap or tote bag or towel off of.
It’s asmall thing that makes me very happy.
I was tidying up my bedroom earlier this month and the thought flashed through my mind, “oh I wish I had those Ballito door handles” and then...
